Chapter 1458 Meeting Again (2/2)

Compared to the few places mentioned earlier, Pagan was better known, especially in the jade trade. That place was as famous as Australia's Lightning Ridge was for its opals.

Just like Wooku, Pagan was also a town, albeit a much larger one. It was located in the western part of Kachin State in the northern part of Myanmar. Situated at the bank of the Wooku River, 350 kilometers north of Mandalay, it was a major source of raw jade.

Since the discovery of the jade ore in the Ming Dynasty, Myanmar had become the world's largest producer of jade. The Pagan jade industry also laid the foundation for the country to be known as the top jewel-grade jade producer.

Pagan had been exploited. Almost every plot of land there had been dug and the situation was similar to Lightning Ridge. Hence, Li Du feared the same might be true for Dena Mountain.

There was no related news on the internet, and that reassured him to a certain degree. If there had been any developed mines there, the information would have appeared on Google, the same as for Pagan Town.

He was worried that there were a few jade mines in the area and that they had all been exploited before the internet age. After all, the mine had been around for more than two hundred years. Things could change over time, even in such remote, little-known areas.

If he took the local residents as an example, compared to the four or five towns in the past, there was only one settlement left – Wooku Town.

He wanted to travel to the area. After learning his plans, the Markelov brothers started to smile. Young Markelov said, ”We are very familiar with that area. In the past, we saved the town's chief and his family. If we were to visit again, I'm sure he would treat us very well. He owes us a debt of gratitude.”

Hearing that, Li Du was elated. ”That's fantastic!”

Right now was not a good time for flying to Myanmar. The government was still in confrontation with the Kachin Independence Army, which also included the guerrilla groups. Although the war zone was not near Dena Mountain, it would still be better for them to stay put for their safety.

The war was too dangerous. Brother Wolf, the Markelov brothers and the rest were very clear about that.

Li Du got the Markelov brothers to recruit their comrades in Ukraine. Of course, he was only willing to hire those who could be trusted. After all, the mine that he was thinking of developing was worth a lot.

In late August, Kobe was hosting a birthday party in the Beverly Hills mansion, and Li Du received an invitation to attend.

LeBron James, who was considered Kobe's long-time rival by most fans, also attended the party. In the eyes of the fans, the players were lifelong rivals and competitors. However, the stars looked to be friends with one another, with no visible hint of animosity.

There was no life-and-death rivalry between them. To them, the sport was a profession. They were rivals on the court, but outside of the court, they considered each other as colleagues.

James was very comfortable in the crowd. He was very good at hosting. Hence, although he was not that day's lead, he still managed to gain quite a fair amount of attention.

When Li Du arrived, James greeted him and said, ”What gift have you brought with you?”

O'Neal entered shortly, and said with a wide smile, ”You've asked the right question, LeBron, and at the perfect timing.”

He had come in a truck, and the truck carried cables. When the boot was opened, the sculpture depicting Kobe and him was revealed.

The rest of the events unfolded smoothly. Kobe smiled as he came up to give O'Neal a hug. The two of them took a photo in front of the sculpture and applause rang out, surrounding them.

Li Du was still watching the emotional scene when someone touched his shoulder. ”Hi, Li. We meet again.”

Having heard the familiar sweet voice, Li Du turned around in surprise. Then he saw a few pretty faces, one of which stood out, smiling happily at him.